A state grand jury has decided not to bring criminal charges against Pemberton Township police officers in connection with the fatal shooting of Marvin Taylor, 57, during an incident on October 19, 2024. The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) led the investigation and presented its findings to a grand jury composed of New Jersey residents. This process followed the Independent Prosecutor Directive of 2019, which requires such cases to be reviewed independently.
The investigation involved multiple sources of evidence, including emergency calls, police radio transmissions, body-worn camera footage, statements from witnesses and law enforcement personnel, ballistics analysis, medical records, and autopsy results. The grand jury concluded its deliberations on November 17, 2025, voting “no bill,” meaning no criminal charges would be filed against Officer Kyle McQueen.
According to investigators, emergency services responded to a report of smoke at a residence in Browns Mills at around 3:22 p.m. Firefighters encountered Mr. Taylor in the backyard; he was armed and pointed a firearm at one firefighter before they retreated. Police arrived as a gunshot was heard from behind the house.
Officers attempted communication using a loudspeaker but received no response from Mr. Taylor and lost sight of him. They waited for backup units including crisis negotiators and members of the NJSP TEAMS Unit. Officer McQueen and another officer positioned themselves behind the residence in a wooded area.
Mr. Taylor was found outside with a rifle that he moved across his field of view toward different corners of the home. Despite verbal commands from Officer McQueen to drop his weapon, Mr. Taylor fired once toward where officers were located; Officer McQueen returned fire and struck Mr. Taylor.
Police provided immediate first aid before Mr. Taylor was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden where he was pronounced dead at 5:36 p.m. Investigators recovered a black bolt action rifle near Mr. Taylor along with two spent shell casings matching that weapon in the backyard; no other injuries were reported among officers or civilians.
A separate investigation by federal authorities determined that the house fire had been deliberately set using gasoline at several locations inside the residence.
Under New Jersey law enacted in 2019 (N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2)), all deaths involving law enforcement encounters must be investigated by the Attorney General’s Office and presented to a grand jury for review regarding possible indictment based on available evidence.
The OPIA conducted standard conflict checks during its investigation as required by policy and found none among those assigned to this case; Executive Director Drew Skinner reviewed findings prior to their presentation before the grand jury.
After such investigations conclude under current procedures, OPIA decides if any individuals should be referred for administrative review according to internal affairs policies—and monitors these reviews for timely completion and appropriate outcomes.
